Muso Jam

Arsenal star withdraws from international duty after injury blow

· Yahoo Sports

Arsenal star withdraws from international duty after injury blow

Kai Havertz Injury Update: Arsenal Await Scan Results After Germany Setback

Arsenal have a Kai Havertz problem to monitor, but not panic over, after the forward left Germany duty early with a hamstring issue.

Visit esporist.org for more information.

Havertz went off in the first half of Germany’s draw with the Netherlands in Amsterdam, and the immediate call was straightforward. He is heading back to Arsenal for assessment, with further tests due from the club’s medical staff. The initial description is a “muscle strain”, which leaves room for optimism, but scans will decide the real timeline.

Germany exit brings early Arsenal return

The Germany camp had already planned a limited role for Havertz during this international window. With a larger squad selected and duties split across four matches in three weeks, he was only expected to be involved in the first two fixtures. Now even that schedule has been cut short.

After the match, Jurgen Klopp said, “Probably out for us, but hopefully then also relatively quickly available again,” and that sums up the situation neatly. Germany do not expect him to play again during the break, and Arsenal will take over from here.

Photo IMAGO

Hamstring injury concern tempered by fixture gap

Timing matters with a hamstring injury, and Arsenal have at least caught a break there. Their next match is not until 10 October, when Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium. That gives Havertz extra recovery time, which is often the difference between a short absence and a longer one.

Given his recent history, Arsenal will be careful. A previous hamstring problem during a mid-season training camp in Dubai kept him out for half of the 2024/25 campaign. That sort of record means caution is compulsory.

Strong Havertz form matters for Arsenal

This is why Arsenal will want good news quickly. Havertz has started all five Premier League matches so far and has looked sharp early in the season. He scored in the 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City and has already matched last season’s league total of two goals.

So yes, Arsenal are waiting on scan results. For now, the mood is hopeful. In injury cases, hopeful is about as good as it gets.

Read full story at source

JJ Redick says final 2 Lakers starters 'will not be white guys'

· Yahoo Sports

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has never shied away from saying something that turns heads.

Visit extonnews.click for more information.

He did just that during a press conference Sept. 24 with general manager Rob Pelinka.

Asked about a projected starting five, Redick said he's confident about three spots — Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and 7-footer Walker Kessler — who the Lakers acquired in an offseason trade.

Then Redick added, "the other two spots will not be white guys."

Doncic, Reaves and Kessler are white, with Doncic being from Slovenia. Redick is also white.

At least 70% of the NBA players are African-American.

There have been commentary on social media about the Lakers having a noticeable number of white players. Former NBA player Olden Polynice talked about it on Byron Scott's Fast Break podcast when asked during the offseason the "biggest needs" for the Lakers.

"Some Black guys," Polynice said with a smile. "All I know is this, no one is going to talk about the elephant in the room. Why they trying to go back to being the Minneapolis Lakers?"

Scott won three NBA championships with the Lakers.

"I can't wait to see those dudes on the wings," Polynice said. "I can't wait to see them on the wing in a five-out, bro."

The Minneapolis Lakers won five NBA championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s with George Mikan, a white big man, their star player with a roster consisting of white players.

The NBA didn't have an African-American play in the NBA until 1950, Earl Lloyd of the Washington Capitols.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: JJ Redick says final 2 Lakers starters 'will not be white guys'

Read full story at source

Didier Deschamps rejects Turkiye approach

· Yahoo Sports

Didier Deschamps rejects Turkiye approach

Visit arroznegro.club for more information.

France will get their UEFA Nations League campaign underway against Turkiye on Friday night. For the first time in 14 years, Les Bleus will compete in a game in which Didier Deschamps is not their manager. Zinédine Zidane will make his debut in the dugout, but in a funny turn of events, Deschamps could just as easily have been in the opposite dugout, as per a report from Le Figaro.

Deschamps announced that he would take his leave as France manager all the way back in January 2025, over 18 months before his actual departure date, in the wake of Les Bleus’ exit from this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Speaking ahead of that tournament, Deschamps said that he would not go into retirement and that he was open to any opportunities.

He has yet to find a new role and, as reported by L’Équipe, a year-long sabbatical is a possibility. In any case, he is not expected to make a return in the dugout until November at the earliest. But that is not to say that he has not had offers. One of them has come from Turkiye; the former France manager politely declined, Le Figaro understands.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Read full story at source